Exploring the Side Bets in Pai Gow Poker: Probabilities, Winnings, Casino Advantage, and Additional Insights

1. Fortune

• • Win condition: 3-of-a-kind or better
  • Odds: 21.05%
  • Payout: Up to 8,000 to 1
  • House edge: Up to 12%

The fortune bet in Pai Gow is among the most frequently placed side bets within this popular game. For this bet, players must be able to form a set of three of a kind or something better with their seven-card hand to secure a win.

This wager is very similar to real-money video poker games As long as a player can achieve three of a kind or more, they will triumph. However, the payout varies depending on the hand's strength.

A typical payout structure for the fortune side bet appears as follows:

As shown, this wager boasts some of the highest payouts among Pai Gow Poker side bets.

Different casinos might implement varying payout tables for this bet, so it's essential to ensure that the casino you are visiting offers favorable payouts for players. Additionally, since the game of Pai Gow includes a joker, it's possible to achieve five of a kind.

However, keep in mind that in Pai Gow, the joker can only be utilized to complete straights or represent an ace. The highest payouts are reserved for natural hands that don't include a joker.

2. Diamondz

• Win condition: 6 or more “diamonds” appear on the board
• Odds: 10.34%
• Payout: Up to 1,000 to 1
• House edge: 11.93%

Another well-liked side wager in Pai Gow is the Diamondz bet. This bet, as the name indicates, rewards players based on the number of diamonds dealt in a specific hand. Diamonds in both the player's hand and the dealer's count.

In total, there are 14 cards dealt between the player and the dealer. To receive a payout, you need at least six of those cards to be diamonds.

The likelihood of getting six diamonds in a single round is approximately 7.69%. When considering all potential winning combinations, your chances of winning this side bet increase to about 10.34%.

The more diamonds that are drawn in a round, the higher your potential payout.

• • 6 diamonds pays 5-1
  • 7 diamonds pays 12-1
  • 8 diamonds pays 25-1
  • 9 diamonds pays 50-1
  • 10 diamonds pays 100-1
  • 11 diamonds pays 200-1
  • 12 diamonds pays 300-1
  • 13 diamonds pays 500-1
  • 14 diamonds pays 1000-1

Another key element to consider with this wager is the joker's role. For this bet, the joker can function as a diamond.

3. Jokolor

• • Win condition: Possess a joker and/or all cards of one color
  • Odds: 14.061%
  • Payout: Up to 30 to 1
  • House edge: 3.90%

Next, we have the intriguingly named Jokolor bet. This wager offers one of the most favorable house edges among Pai Gow Poker side bets listed here.

To win this bet, it's easiest if you're dealt the joker. As there are 53 cards in play and you're dealt seven cards, the odds of receiving a joker in any hand is 12.9088%.

You can also win by having all the cards in your hand matching in color, which is a rarer event, occurring less than 1% of the time. For the top payout, you'll need both a joker and cards all of the same color, which has a mere 0.2987% chance of happening.

Overall, your chances of winning this bet come out to 14.061%. The positive aspect is that the payout ratios for the Jokolor side bet can be quite generous.

• • Joker: 5 to 1
  • All cards are the same color: 10 to 1
  • Joker and same color cards yield a payout of 30 to 1.

Note that this wager focuses on the color of your cards, rather than their suits. Therefore, hearts and diamonds can mix, as can spades and clubs.

4. Emperor’s Challenge

• • Win condition: Have a 9 High Pai Gow or better
  • Odds: 20%
  • Payout: Up to 5,000 to 1
  • House edge: 4.171%

There are also Pai Gow Poker side bets that yield rewards for players with subpar hands. The Emperor's Challenge is arguably the most well-known among these.

For this wager, it's worth noting that the term 'Pai Gow' not only names the game but also refers to a hand that lacks a winning combination other than the highest card.

Check the table below to see an example of payouts associated with this side wager.

As illustrated, you can triumph in the Emperor’s Challenge either by having a strong hand or by having a qualifying Pai Gow hand.

Overall, you have about a 20% chance — or one in five — of succeeding with this bet. The benefit of having numerous winning combinations comes with slightly reduced payouts compared to other Pai Gow side bets.

5. Insurance

• • Win condition: Have a 9 High Pai Gow or better
  • Odds: 16.076%
  • Payout: Up to 100-1
  • House edge: 7.35%

Completing my list of top Pai Gow side bets is the insurance wager. If you’re familiar with betting systems, you might already grasp the fundamentals of this wager. real-money blackjack Similar to the Emperor’s Challenge, the insurance bet provides payouts to players, even when they're dealt a poor hand. In reality, the worse your hand, the more lucrative your potential payout becomes.

The downside to this bet is that, unlike the previously mentioned wagers, losing your ante bet is quite likely. It’s difficult to beat the dealer with nothing but a high card in both your lower and upper hands. However, the payouts from the insurance wager can help you recuperate some losses from your ante bet.

• • Ace-high Pai Gow = 3-1
  • King-high Pai Gow = 5-1
  • Queen-high Pai Gow = 7-1
  • Jack-high Pai Gow = 15-1
  • 10-high Pai Gow = 25-1
  • 9-high Pai Gow = 100-1

Engaging in side bets while playing Pai Gow Poker presents a lively and potentially rewarding way to enhance your casino experience. This guide has outlined the five most popular side wagers available in the world of Pai Gow Poker.